The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor: Solid Fulcrum of Workers

After two years of being heavily affected by the pandemic, in 2022, the country's socio-economic situation shows signs of recovery. A number of key industries and fields showed strong development. To earn the country's overall results workers, officials, laborers and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) - workers' representative organization - have an essential role.

To implement the content: “Taking care of workers' jobs and lives; strive to best achieve the goals and tasks of the 12th VGCL Congress Resolution," and the Action Plan to implement the 13th Party Congress's Resolution, Resolution 02-NQ/TW, dated June 12, 2021, by the Politburo on "Renovating the organization and operation of Vietnam's General Confederation of Labor in a new situation", confederations at all levels have flexibly and creatively deployed, completed task and surpassed 9 out of its 11 targets for 2022.

The program "One million initiatives - efforts to overcome difficulties, creatively and determinedly overcome the Covid-19 pandemic" launched by the VGCL has created a widespread emulation movement, thereby demonstrating the high sense of responsibility and outstanding efforts its system and employees in implementing the Party and State's important policy on safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of the pandemic, contributing to country's recovery and socio-economic development.

Nguyen Dinh Khang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, presented Tet gifts to workers in Binh Duong. (Photo: Vietnam General Confederation of Labor)

Take care and protect the rights of employees

Right from the beginning of 2022, confederations at all levels have strengthened their understanding of the situation of labor, employment, production, and business, and participated in the development of production plans, dialogues and negotiations with employers to maintain jobs, income, and ensure safe working conditions. In addition, they continue to guide workers affected by Covid-19 to benefit from the government's welfare policy. Their active support has helped more than 4.6 million workers receive rent allowance under Prime Minister's Decision No. 08/2022/QD-TTg with a total amount of more than US$ 3,1 trillion.

Welfare programs for the confederation's members and employees continue to be implemented at all levels to strengthen the relationship between the confederations and their members. In 2022, more than 1.3 million employees benefited from the VGCL's Welfare Program with an amount of over VND 26.4 billion; more than 2.2 million employees can participate in cultural activities, sports, and cultural performances organized by confederations.

Protecting workers from a long distance, and participating in laws and policy development are the focuses of confederations at all levels. 1,365 written comments from confederations at all levels were sent to relevant agencies in localities and sectors. From the dialogue between the Prime Minister and 4,500 workers, held by the Bac Giang General Confederation of Labor and online at 63 locations in provinces, cities, localities, and sectors, the confederation has held 151 meetings and dialogues between leaders of Party committees, authorities, and employees, receiving and answering 1,865 suggestions and proposals from members and employees. Thereby, they make an important contribution to promptly handling pressing and urgent issues in the localities and units.

With the 2023 Lunar New Year approaching, as hundreds of thousands of workers are underemployed and have reduced income, confederations at all levels are focusing on taking care of their members with the motto "Every member, everyone has Tet”. It is estimated that about 1 million members and workers in difficult circumstances will receive support from the confederation with a total estimated budget of VND 500 billion. Along with that, 22 "Confederation Tet Markets in 2023" have been organized to help millions of workers buy essential goods with discounts from 15% to 70%.

Towards VGCL's 13th Congress

2023 is the year of "reaching the goal," which means implementing the 12th VGCL Congress Resolution and organizing confederation congresses at all levels and the 13th VGCL Congress. it is also the third year of implementing the 13th Party Congress Resolution, Resolution 02-NQ/TW dated June 12, 2021, of the Politburo on “Renovating the organization and operation of the VGCL in the new situation". One of the top tasks identified by the VGCL's Executive Committee (12th term) is focusing on successfully organizing congresses at all levels and the 13th VGCL Congress according to Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 17, 2022, of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on the leadership of confederation congresses at all levels and the 13th VGCL Congress, term 2023-2028 and Plan No. 179/KH-TLD of the General Confederation on the organization of the congress.

With the motto "Innovation - Democracy - Solidarity - Development", the congresses at all levels is a big political event, a democratic forum for confederation members to speak up, and express their enthusiasm and responsibility, their participation in the confederation and united towards the goal: Building a strong VGCL, performing well its functions and tasks in the new situation, serving as a political - social base of the Party and State, serving as a bridge; maintaining close links between the Party and State and the working class, contributing to building a modern and strong working class, being a pioneering force in carrying out the task of rapid and sustainable country development.

As planned, confederation congresses at all levels will focus on summarizing confederation work in the 2018-2023 term; to decide on targets, directions, tasks, and solutions for the 2023-2028 tenure; collect recommendations to the Party and State to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of their members and employees. They also discuss supplementing and amending the VGCL Charter and electing a new executive committee with qualified and respectable officers to meet leadership requirements in the current situation, successfully implementing the congress resolutions.

It is believed that, with high determination, confederation congresses at all levels for the 2023-2028 tenure will see innovations, contributing to the development of the workers' movement and the confederation organization.

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